Automated Smartphone Threshold Audiometry: Validity and Time Efficiency.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Mobile Health Technology
• Public Health

Background:

• Smartphone-based audiometry presents a cost-effective solution for hearing assessments.
• Automated testing via smartphones can improve access to audiometry in underserved populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the hearTest smartphone application for threshold audiometry.
• To assess the accuracy of hearTest using inexpensive Android smartphones and calibrated headphones.

Main Methods:

• A within-participant study compared air-conduction thresholds (0.5-8 kHz) from smartphone audiometry to conventional audiometry.
• 95 participants (30 adults with hearing loss, 65 adolescents) were included.
• Wilcoxon signed-ranked and paired samples t tests were used for analysis.

Main Results:

• Adults: 94.4% of smartphone thresholds matched conventional within 10 dB; test times were similar.
• Adolescents: 84.7% of thresholds matched within 5 dB at key frequencies; smartphone testing was significantly longer.
• No significant differences in accuracy were noted between the methods.

Conclusions:

• The hearTest application with calibrated headphones is a valid and cost-effective tool for determining air-conduction hearing thresholds.
• Smartphone audiometry shows promise for expanding access to hearing healthcare.